Whose hands were the last to hold this
extraordinary vessel in the twilight of the
classical age? As that unknown person shook out
its perfumed contents, could they have imagined
the vastly changed world in which it now finds
itself? In the presence of this lovely object we feel
an immense bond with that ancient life,
something in common much stronger than mere
glass.
In the world of terracotta vessels, marble
sculpture, and bronze adornment that was the
Classical world, no material was prized so much
as glass. The material itself was rare, and the
process of its forging so laborious, that few
artisans took the time necessary to develop the
skill. It would have required years of experience
for a glass-maker to yield a piece of this quality.
This piece demonstrates not only an intimate
understanding of the glassmaker’s craft but an
equally delicate knowledge of the human form.
Feel how perfectly the orb-shaped base fits into
your hand. Notice how easily and comfortably
your finger curves around the supple spout.
When we notice how perfectly suited this vessel
is for the human touch, it reminds us that this
piece of art was created not only for the sake of
beauty, but for utility. Imagine the wonderful
existence of the Roman aristocrat who possessed
this piece. Every cup he drained, every chair he
sat upon, every door-handle he turned was
crafted with infinite elegance and complete
originality. To turn this piece over in our hands
is to transport ourselves into a dimension in
which every aspect of the ordinary is laced with
incomparable beauty, and meticulous grace.
While we enshrine magnificent pieces such as
this bit of glass, there was once a time where
everything in one’s world was of its quality. To
possess it is to delicately hold, for the last time,
a shred of a world where opulence, creativity,
and the pursuit of the rare and exceptional were
once as plentiful as glass is in the modern world. - (GF.0051)